• Shorter, concise configuration
• Dependencies closer to source
• Ensure type-safety
• Self-documentation

• Strewn all over source
• Changes require recompilation
• Less control over configuration
• Clutter POJOs with metadata

• XML helps with separation of concerns.
  • The blueprint is separate from the code
  • The blueprint is in a single location
  • Changes do not require a recompilation
• XML centralizes metadata
• More verbose is easier for beginners

• Error-prone
• No type validation

Examples:

<bean id="myorg" class="com.spring.myproject.domain.Organization">
  <constructor-arg value="${org.companyName}" name="companyName"></constructor-arg>
  <constructor-arg value="${org.year}" name="year"></constructor-arg>
  <property value="${org.employeeCount}" name="employeeCount"></property>
</bean>

package com.spring.myproject.domain;

@Component
public class Organization {
  @Value("${nameOfCompany}")
  private String companyName;
  @Value("#{startUpYear}")
  private int year;
  @Value("${empCount:22222}")
  private int employeeCount;
}